Turning attachment for drill presses



June 9, 1953 G. M. HARRY TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES Filed May 19, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 99'

Geoff June 9, 1953 e. M. HARRY TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1949 I l I q L w w INVENTOR.

Q. K N

June 9, 1953 G. M. HARRY 2,641,150

TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES Filed May 19, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORQ 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. M. HARRY TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES June 9, 1953 Filed May 19, 1949 June 9, 1953 G. M. HARRY TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES Filed May 19, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 G INVENTOR.

June 9, 1953 Filed May 19, 1949 e. M. HARRY 2,641,150 TURNING ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l, J44? 07 -726 1/24 J02 G ff 1 5% if 29 4 w ,MMW

Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'TURNTNG ATTACHMENT FOR DRILL PRESSES Geoffrey M. Harry, Oak Park, Ill. Application May 19, 1949, Serial No. 94,217

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a turning attachment for a drill press of the conventional vertical type which may be readily attached thereto or detached therefrom for the purpose of turning, forming or threading work.

Many owners of home work shops practice a variety of machine shop operations on equipment which they must maintain in their homes in furtherance of their hobbies such as model making and the like. This equipment, however, is relatively expensive and to the home operator of average means, the cost of a full line of equipment with which all machine shop operations may be performed, is prohibitive. A drill press of the vertical type is one popular item owned by many operators because it is relatively inexpensive. However, a lathe for turning, forming or threading work usually requires a considerable outlay of capital and, consequently, many home operators are forced to do without and to have their turning or formin work done on the outside by a machine shop for hire.

One attempt has been made to devise an attachment which could be applied to a standard drill press of the vertical type and by which such turning and forming operations could be performed. This attempt is illustrated by the structure of the Turnepseed Patent No. 1,992,558 of February 26, 1935, which structure is ostensibly so heavy and complicated and would be so expensive and so limited in its range of operation as to be commercially unacceptable. The Turnepseed attachment comprised a complicated driving mechanism between the drill press chuck and the work holding chuck including sets of a gears, chains, sprockets and clutches, and the cutting tool engaged the work to a very limited extent only below a lateral guide member for the work. The cutting tool was not movable vertically but the work was moved relatively to the tool as the work was rotated. The attachment was capable of turning or forming only the lower portion of the work, the extent of the out being limited to the small space between the guide and the attachment base. such limitation of operation made such an attachment wholly unsuitable for the purposes of a home operator as well as a machine shop operator.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a portable turning attachment for a standard vertical drill press which is of simple, inexpensive construction and which may be readily attached to and detached from the drill press as desired.

' Another further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a drill press by which turning, forming or threading operations may be performed and by which the cutting tool may perform such operations to a relatively unlimited extent along the side of the work substantially from end to end thereof.

Still another object is to provide an attachment of the foregoing character in which the rotating work is vertically stationary during the cutting operation and the cutting tool is moved vertically relative to the work.

A further object is to provide an attachment as described in the preceding object wherein the cutting tool islaterally adjustable and may be moved vertically by a. manually operated mechanism.

A still further object is to provide an attachment of the foregoing character wherein the cutting tool is moved vertically automatically by a mechanism driven from a rotatable member of the drill press such as the chuck.

Another further object is to provide an attachment as defined in the preceding object wherein the mechanism for moving the cutting tool vertically relative to thework may be selectively operated either manually or automatically.

Another. object is to provide an attachment of the foregoing character in which the driving connection between the chuck and the mechanism for moving the cutting tool vertically automatically may be disconnected as desired and the mechanism operated manually for short cutting operations or for cutting tool adjustment.

A further object is to provide an attachment as above described wherein the driving connection between the drill press chuck and the mechanism for automatically moving the cutting tool vertically may be adjusted to pieces of work of varying lengths.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as this description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View showing a lathe attachment for a drill press comprising one embodiment of my invention and applied to a conventional type of drill press shown partially by the broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the lathe attachment as viewed from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lathe attachment;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

bit may be held for rotatable movement.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 'II in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view of another form of lathe attachment comprising a second embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 99 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I0I0 in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the lock plate for the screw gear and the top frame.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, the one embodiment of my invention is shown therein as applied to a drill press of conventional form. Such a conventional vertical drill press comprises a rotary drill powered by an electric or pneumatic motor and having a rotatable chuck in which a drill The drill is mounted in a vertical upstanding frame comprising a table, a rear standard and a drill clamping means at the upper portion thereof which may be actuated vertically by a handle to raise and lower the drill. The portions of the drill press which are shown in broken lines in the drawings are the table II] and the chuck II which is mounted for rotative movement and driven by the drill spindle and motor (not shown).

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, the attachment has a base I2 with upstanding reinforcing ribs I3 in which are formed spaced openings I4. The base I2 is secured to the drill press table II] by bolts I6 which extend through the openings I4 and through aligned openings I! in the drill press table Ill. The openings I4 and ribs I3 may be so formed and arranged in and on the base I2 as to register with openings of standard drill press tables or new openings may be drilled in such tables to accommodate the attachment.

The base I2 is also provided with upstanding socket portions I8 and I9 integrally connected with the ribs I3 and spaced apart at opposite sides of the base. The lower ends of a pair of upstanding columns and 2I are received within the socket portions I8 and I9, respectively, and are retained therein by pins 22 and 23 extending through the socket walls I8 and I9 and the columns 28 and El, respectively. Between the columns 20 and 2!, the base I2 also has a smaller socket portion 24 in which the lower end of an upstanding and elongated screw 26 is rotatably received. The socket portion 24 is integrally connected to short, upstanding ribs 21 and 28 which also are integrally connected with the socket portions I8 and I9 and the base I2. At the central portion of the base I2 there is another socket portion 29 at the end of an upstanding, reinforcing base rib 30 and removably secured in this socket portion 29 by a set screw 3| is a work centering member 32 having a tapered, pointed upper end adapted to engage the lower end face of a piece of work 33 shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. The upper end of the work piece 33 is secured in the drill press chuck II for rotation therewith so that it is supported at both ends during the turning operation.

A tool supporting, slide block or carrier 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) is mounted on the vertical screw 26, the screw being in threaded engagement with a threaded opening 36 in the central portion of the block so that upon rotation of the screw 26 vertical movement of the block 34 will be effected. The block 34 is also provided with openings 31 and 38 adjacent each of its ends and through which are slidably received the vertical columns 20 and 2|, respectively. The columns 20 and 2I serve to guide the slide block 34 during its vertical movement and prevent rotative movement thereof about the screw 26. Extending laterally through the slide block 34 on each side of the vertical threaded opening 36 are openings 39 and 40 having smooth bores and through which slide rods M and 42 are slidably received. The slide rods M and 42 are secured together at their opposite respective ends by end bars 43 and 44, pins 46 extending through the end bars 43 and 44 and the ends of the slide rods ll and 42.

The slide rods M and 42 and the end bars 43 and 44 comprise a slidable tool supporting frame which is adapted for horizontal movement relative to the vertical movable block 34 and toward and from the work piece 33. A cutting tool 41 is secured in laterally projecting position on the end bar 44 by a screw 48 while the end bar 43 is provided with a threaded aperture 49 into which is threadedly received a screw 5!] having a handle 5! secured on the outer end thereof by a pin 52. The inner end of the screw 56 is received within an opening 53 in the vertical side face of the slide block 34 and it is retained therein by a lock wire 54 (Figs. 1, 6 and '7) whose arms 56 and 5! extend through vertical holes 58 and 59 in the slide block 34 and into an annular groove 60 formed adjacent the end of screw 50. By the foregoing construction the cutting tool 4! may be moved or adjusted relative to the work 33 by rotation of the screw 50, the slide rods 4| and 42 and the end bars 43 and 44 being caused to move laterally as the handle 5| is rotated in the desired direction.

The upper ends of the columns 20 and 2I are connected together as a unit by a fixed cross bar bar 6| which has spaced openings 62 and 63 in which the columns 2I and 2B are received and secured by pins 64 and 66, respectively. The cross bar 6I has upstanding bearing extensions 61 and 68 on its opposite sides and these extensions are provided with openings 69 and In in which a worm shaft II is supported for free rotative movement. A worm 12 is secured to the worm shaft II by a pin I3 and meshes with a worm wheel I4 fixed on the vertical screw 26 adjacent its upper end by a pin I6. The upper end 25a of the screw 26 is reduced in size and projects through an opening 11 in the cross bar 6I for free rotative movement relative thereto and similarly the lower end 26b of the screw 26 which is rotatably received within the base i2 is also of reduced diameter. An operating handle I8 is secured by a pin 19 to the end of the worm shaft II which projects beyond the bearing portion 68 so that upon rotation of the handle 18 rotation of the vertical screw 26 will be effected through the worm shaft II, worm I2 and worm wheel 14. As the screw 26 is rotated. the slide block or tool carrier 34 will be moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the work 33 depending upon the direction of rotation of the operating handle 8.

The above-described lathe attachment is of relatively small and lightweight construction and may be readily and quickly applied to a convenient drill press merely by bolting it to the table thereof in properly aligned position. It is also of simple and inexpensive contruction and hence may be manufactured and sold at a low price to drill press operators, particularly to those maintaining home workshops. By means of the attachment, a home workshop operator is able to perform turning and forming operations without the necessity of an outlay of considerable capital for a conventional lathe, the small sizes of which are relatively expensive and beyond the means of most operators. Furthermore, when not in use, the attachment because of its small size may be stored on a shelf or in a tool box whereas a conventional lathe must be left in mounted position and cannot be so stored.

' When it is desired to turn a piece of work 33 in combination with the drill press, the attachment is readily bolted in position as shown in Fig. 1. A piece of work is next prepared by cutting a standard center hole in the bottom face thereof after which it is inserted and secured in position in the chuck II. Then the chuck and work are lowered by the drill press operating handle (not shown) into the Fig. 1 position wherein the lower end of the Work 33 is centered against the point of the tapered centering member 32 for free rotative movement thereon. Before or after the work 33 has been correctly positioned against the center 32, the drill press motor and spindle may be set in operation so as to rotate the work. Thereafter, the operator may rotate the handle IS in the desired direction so as to move the slide block 34 downwardly along the screw 26 and columns 20 and 2I until it is opposite or immediately below the lower end of the work 33. The cutting tool 41 may then be moved against the lower end of the work 33 in cutting relation thereto by rotation of the handle 50, the extent of the cut to be taken being governed by the extent of handle rotation.

When the cutting tool 41 has been properly set against the work 33, the operator is then ready to proceed with the turning operation. With the work 33 being rotated, the operator rotates the operating handle I8 in the proper direction so as to move the slide block 34 and the cutting tool 4'! upwardly, the cutting operation being continued up along the side of the work 33 until the slide block 34 engages the under side of the cross bar 6| at which point the cutting tool is near the bottom of the chuck II. If it is desired to reduce the work 33 to a considerable extent, this may be accomplished by taking several cuts, the slide block 34 being lowered and the tool 41 being moved relative to the work preparatory to each cutting operation.

In the second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings, the drill press attachment has provision for automatic as well as manual operation. In this embodiment, the base I00, in a manner similar to the first embodiment, supports an upwardly projecting centering member IM and upwardly extending columns I02 and I03 and a rotatable screw I04. The upper ends of the columns I 02 and I 03 are secured to a cross bar I08 by pins I01 and the upper reduced end I04a of the screw is journaled therein for free rotative movement. Also similar to the first embodiment, a tool supporting block I08 carrying a cutting tool I09 is mounted on the screw I04 and the columns I02 and I03 for vertical movement relative thereto upon rotation of the screw. A cutting tool I09 is similarly carried on a slidable frame comprising the slide rods I I0 and end bars III and II2. Slidable movement of the frame relative to the block I08 is effected'by the horizontal screw I I3 having a handle II4 on the outer end thereof. However, the screw I I3 is held in position on the block I08 in a manner different from the first embodiment. In this modifled construction, a clip H6 is secured to the block I08 by pins II! and has a slot H8 in which the reduced portion II 9 of the screw II3 adjacent the end thereof is received.

Between the upper cross bar I06 and the movable tool block I 08 on the columns I02 and I03 and screw I04, there is adjustably mounted a screw operating mechanism for rotating the screw I04 and thereby effecting vertical movement of the tool carrying block I08. This screw operating mechanism is adapted for both manual and automatic operation, and when operated automatically is driven by the drill chuck I20 as a source of power. Comprising part of this mechanism is a worm wheel I2I having a threaded opening at its central portion for threaded engagement with the vertical screw I04. The worm wheel I 2| is provided with bearing surfaces I2 I a and I2 I b on its upper and lower sides against which are clamped spaced horizontal plates I22 and I23, respectively.

The columns I02 and I03 and the screw I04 extend through each of these plates I22 and I23 so that the plates are slidable relative thereto. The plates I22 and I23 are maintained in proper vertically spaced relationship by spacing sleeves I24 and bolts I28 on one side of the screw I 04, and by spaced bearings I2'I on the other side thereof. The bearings I21 are each provided with upwardly and downwardly extending circular projections I28 which extend through and beyond the plates I22 and I23, each projection having a retaining pin I29 extending horizontally therethrough. The plates I22 and I23, the spacer sleeves I24, the bolts I26 and the bearings I21 thus form a movable frame which is adjustably mounted on the screw I04 and which also supports the automatic and manual driving mechanism for the screw I04.

A worm shaft I30 is rotatably supported in the bearings I21 and has a worm I3I secured thereon by a pin I 32 and in mesh with the worm wheel I2! on the screw I04. The outer end portion of the worm shaft I 30 projects beyond the plates I22 and I 23 and has a helical gear I33 secured thereon by a pin I34. An operating handle I 36 is detachably mounted on the end of the worm shaft I30 by engagement of a projecting pin I31 fixed on the shaft I30 and receivable in a slot I38 of the handle I36. The helical gear I33 is positioned adjacent the chuck I20 and engages a helical gear I39 mounted on the outer periphery of the drill chuck I20. The gear I39 is adapted to be fixed to the drill chuck I20 by a set screw I40 in either of the positions shown in Fig. 8. In the full line or lowered position the helical gear I39 is in driving engagement with the gear I33 and in the broken line or raised position it is out of such driving engagement.

In order to prevent rotation of the worm wheel I2I relative to the screw I04- and to lock the wheel and screw together for rotation in unison, there is a lock plate MI positioned over the plate I22 and having an unthreaded central opening I4Ia in which is slidably received the vertical screw I 04. On each side of the lockplate opening there is fixed a depending pin I42, which pins are adapted to project through the top plate I 22 and downwardly into openings I43 in the upper surface of the worm wheel I2I.. Extend.-

ing radially into the central opening I Ma of the lock plate MI is a key I4 3 which is received Within a keyway or vertical slot w ll; of the vertical screw I84. By the foregoing arrangement of parts, when the lock plate pins N2 are in engaged lowered position in the openings I43 of worm wheel I2I, the worm wheel and the screw IM will rotate in unison. However, when it is desired to rotate the worm wheel IZI relative to the screw IM in order to adjust the vertical position of the plates I22 and I23, worm IBI, worm shaft I and helical gear I33, thereon, the lock plate MI may be raised to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 10, the pins I42 being removed from the worm wheel I2! in this position.

Inasmuch as the work I46 which is to be machined on the attachment varies in length so that when moved down into position against the center IUI the vertical position of the chuck [2% will likewise vary in height, it is necessary therefore to adjust the driving mechanism on the vertical screw 164 to the same height as the chuck In so that the helical gears I39 and 33 will properly mesh. If the length of a piece of work which has been inserted in the chuck 523 and positioned against the center IIlI is such that the gears I39 and I33 are out of mesh, the driving connection may be reestablished by lifting the lock plate MI out of contact with the worm Wheel I2 I. When such contact has been broken, the operator may then rotate the operating handle I35. Rotation of this handle in the proper direction will rotate the worm wheel I2! relative to the vertical screw IM through the worm shaft I30 and worm I3I, the rotation of the worm wheel causing the entire unit to move up or down on the screw IM. When meshing engagement of the gears I39 and I33 has been reestablished, then the lock plate MI is dropped back into locking position and thereafter rotation of the worm wheel I M will cause rotation of the screw I II as well.

After the parts have been so adiusted to proper automatic operation. it may still be necessary to adiust the cutting tool I I39 to the proper depth of cut on the work I66. This is carried out by loosening the set screw I48 and lifting the helical gear I39 upwardly on the chuck I29 out of mesh with the gear I33, after which the set screw I49 may be tightened slightly to retain the gear I39 in raised position as shown in Fig. 8. The operating handle I36 is then rotated so as to rotate the screw I04 which raises or lowers the tool block I83 and the tool I09 for trial cuts relative to the work. When the proper depth of out has been established, the gear I39 is released to its lowered position in mesh with the gear I33 and secured by the retaining screw Mil to the chuck I20. Then the operating handle I36 is removed from the worm shaft I30 and the drill press started, the vertical screw IM being automatically driven by the drill press motor through the chuck I20, gear I39, gear I33, worm shaft I38, Worm I3I and worm wheel I2I. Automatic rotation of the shaft I04, as above described, will in turn effect automatic feeding movement of the tool block I08 from the lower end to the upper portion of the work I46.

It is thus apparent that by the foregoing arrangement of parts, the second embodiment of the invention may be automatically or manually operated. For manual operation it is only necessary that the gear I39 be moved to raised position and then the handle I36 rotated after the press is started. Such manual operation may be desirable for short machining operations. However, where long machine cuts are to be made, the automatic drive above described is utilized. It is further apparent that the second embodiment as well as the first may be readily applied to existing drill presses and that in order to drive the attachment from the drill press chuck it is necessary merely to clamp the helical gear I39 to the outer periphery thereof by the set screw I49.

Although there have been illustrated in the drawings and described above two embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that changes and modifications in the details of construction and mode of operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for use with a vertical type drill press having a table and a rotatable chuck in elevated position above said table and adapted to grip and turn a piece of work, said attachment comprising a base, a centering member extending upwardly from the base and adapted to engage the lower end of the piece of work, an upright standard supported on said base in laterally spaced relation from said centering member and including a pair of elongated guide members and an elongated rotatable screw disposed substantially equidistant between said guide members in substantially the same upright plane, a tool carrier comprising an elongated block extending transversely in slidable engagement with said guide members and in threaded engagement with. said screw, means for rotating said screw to effect movement of said block vertically of said standard during rotation of the work, an adjustable tool support comprising a pair of elongated slidable members each extending transversely through said block and substantially equally spaced between said screw and one of said guide members and in slidable relation with said block, means at one end of said support for holding a tool substantially perpendicularly with respect to said upright plane and in substantial radial alignment between said screw and said centering member whereby the reaction due to engagement of the tool with the work piece is substantially equally distributed between said guide members, and feeding means coasting between said block and the opposite end of said support for eifecting lateral sliding movement of the support away from and toward the work.

2. An attachment for a vertical type drill press having a table and a rotatable chuck in elevated position above the table, said attachment comprising a base adapted to be aflixed to the drill press table, an upright centering member on said base for engaging the lower end of a worl; piece, said centering member being adapted to be aligned axially with the drill press chuck when the attachment is mounted in operating position on the drill press table whereby to permit the work piece to be gripped and rotated at its upper end by the chuck while centered at its opposite ends by the chuck and by said member, an upright standard mounted on said base and laterally spaced from said centering member, said standard comprising a pair of transversely spaced supporting columns and an elongated rotatable upright screw intermediate said columns and substantially equidistant therebetween, said screw and said columns having their axes substantially aligned in a single upright plane spaced laterally from said centering member and the rotational axis of the work piece, a transverse tool carriage slidably mounted on said columns and operatively engaging said screw for vertical movement thereon, a laterally adjustable tool mounted on said carriage and extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said single upright plane and in substantial radial alignment between said screw and said centering member whereby the reaction due to engagement of the tool with the work piece is substantially equally distributed between said columns, and means for rotating said screw during rotation of the work piece.

3. The attachment of claim 2 further characterized in that said means for rotating said screw comprises a cross portion extending transversely between said columns adjacent the upper ends thereof and having the upper end of said screw journaled therein, rotatable handle sup ported on said cross portion, and gear means on said handle in operative engagement with the upper end portion of said screw for effecting rotation of the latter during rotation of the work piece.

4. The attachment of claim 2 further characterized in that said means for rotating said screw comprises actuating means operatively engaged with the upper end portion of said screw and including means operably engageable with 10 the rotatable chuck of the drill press for auto matically efiecting movement of said tool carriage upon operation of the drill press.

5. The attachment of claim 2 further characterized in that said means for rotating said screw comprises actuating means carried on said standard and operatively engaged with the upper end portion of said screw, and rotatable operating means operatively engaged with said. actuating means and also operatively connectable with the drill press chuck for automatically driving said actuating means upon operation of the drill press, said actuating means being vertically acijustable relative to said standard and to the drill press chuck for obtaining driving engagement between said screw and the drill press chuck at different elevations.

GEOFFREY M. HARRY References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 68,415 Clifford Sept. 3, 186'? 2,372,000 Johanson Mar. 20, 1945 2,509,581 Stevens May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 618,135 Germany Sept. 2, 1935 

